Bottleholder



Dec. 12, 1944. K pow 2,364,650

BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Feb. 7, 1938 i E i i i 35 32 I i i a a u i 1 i lz'o E 4 3 5 T i A J Patented Dec. 12, 1944 no'rrmnonnna Henry K. Powell. Chicago. Ill.. minor to Morris Paper Mills, Chicago. 111., a corporation of 11- linoil Application February 7, 1938, Serial No. 189,061

18 Claims.

This invention relates to holders or containers for packaging a plurality of bottles or similar articles in a manner iacilitating their being handled and carried as a roup.

A general object of the invention is the provision of such a holder or container which may be fabricated economically from paper board or similar sheet material in a form such that it may be packaged in a fiat knocked-down condition for shipment or storage, and may be set up quickly and easily by the user at the point oi use, without requiring special apparatus or additional fastenings, into a form in which it constitutes a stable and sufiiciently strong container for the packaging, display, handling and convenient trasportation of a plurality of bottles or the like.

Another object is the provision of such a holder or container which, in its set-up condition, retains its form as a receptacle, even though empty or only partially filled, and hence forms a convenient repository for the bottles when they are p y.

Another object is the provision of such a holder or container which is particularly adapted for reuse as for returning the empty bottles and for the packaging of additional groups of bottles.

A particular object is the provision 01 a construction which can be manufactured from conventional sheet stock with minimum waste of material and in which the portions which are subject to distortion in the normal use of the device are efi'ectively reinforced and stayed so as to develop maximum strength, thus permitting the use of substantially lighter stock than otherwise would be feasible.

Other and further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or will be apparent from the following description.

For the purpose of aiding in an explanation of the invention, I disclose in the drawing forming a part of this specification, and hereinafter describe, certain embodiments of it. It is to be understood, however, that these are presented merely by way 01' illustration and'are not to be construed in any fashion for the purpose of limiting the appended claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In said drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container or holder embodying the invention, shown in its setup condition and with some bottles inplace in it;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view oi the lower portion oi. a modified construction embodying the invention:

Fi 3 is a plan view of the blank, illustrating the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in its knockeddown form;

Fig, 4 is a section on approximately line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view or the lower end portion of the container opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

The nature of the invention will be most quickly ascertained from the following description of the embodiments illustrated in the drawing.

Referring first to Fig. 3, it will be understood that this illustrates a blank formed from a sheet of paper board or the like having the proper strength. It will be observed that the blank is substantially rectangular in form and that it is integral and subdivided primarily into two sections, section A being designated, for purpose of convenience, the body section, and section B the girth section.

The body section is apportioned, by score lines or creases, into a bottom panel ill at one end, bottom panel flap II at the other end, and side panels i2 and I2 which may be creased along lines It and is to define top panels I4 and I4. Crease line I5 defines the junction of the bottom panel l0 and side panel l2, crease line I! the junction of the side panels, and crease line I! the junction of side panel l2 and bottom flap ii. Near their tops the side panels are provided with similarly located apertures 20 of size adequate to admit the fingers.

In their upper portions, side panels l2 and I2 are slotted along lines 2|, 22 and 24 to form upper tabs 25, lower tabs "26 and end tabs 21. Upper tabs 25 are flexible inwardly along scored crease lines 28, as are also lower tabs 26 along scored crease lines 29. End tabs 21 are likewise flexible inwardly along curved scored crease lines 30. Bottom tab II is split along line 3| and shaped to form two locking hooks I la and bottom panel I0 is provided with a suitable slot 32 into which the locking hooks Ila may be introduced when they are in overlapped relationship, and

with the ends of which they lockingly engage when they are restored to their normal side-byside relationship after such insertion.

The marginal contour of the body section is such that the lower portions of the side panels l2 and I! are slightly indented, or narrower, relative to their upper portions and the bottom panel I0, so that shoulders 34 are provided.

The girth section B is formed along one margin of the body section, and remains attached to the to body section along a creased fold line 35 at one end of the bottom panel ll. The girth section is subdivided by creased fold lines 33, 31, 33 and 38 into end panels lll, ll and 42 and girth side panels 44 and l5. The height of said girth panels is slightly less than the height of the lower indented portions of the side panels l2 and I2, and the length of the end panels 43, 4| and 42 respectively is approximately the same as the width of the bottom panel ll, while the length of the girth side panels 44 and 4| is slightly greater than the distance between the opposite inset lower portions of the side panels I2 and I2.

The container is set up from the flat or knocked-down condition illustrated in Fig. 3 by flrst folding bottom panel ll upwardly along crease lines II and 33, and bottom flap ll up-' wardly along crease line l3, then folding side panel I2 over toward side panel I2, the fold taking place along the top crease line H, then overlapping the locking tongues lla one over another and inserting them through slot 32 from the outer side thereof and permitting them to spring back into collateral relationship, then folding end panel lll upwardly along crease line 35, then flexing girth side panel 44 along crease line 36 so as to bring it along the outer side of side panel i2, then flexing end panel II on crease line 31 so as to bring it across the space between side panels I2 and I2, then flexing girth side panel 45 along crease line 38 so as to bring it against the outer side of side panel i2, then flexing end panel 42 inwardly along crease line 33 and inserting its locking hook 42a through slot 43 from the outer side. When so folded, the girth section forms a rim completely about the periphery of the bottom panel III, the shoulders 34 of the side panels jutting over the upper margin of said rim so as to hold it against sliding upwardly. The free end of the bottom panel i projects under the margin of end panel 4| and holds it against sliding downwardly. Thus the girth and the side panels together form a shallow tray-like receptacle having sides whose upper portions arch upwardly and are conjoined at their upper extremities. The dimensions of this container preferably are predetermined in accordance with the dimensions of the articles which are to be packaged in it. For example, the embodiment illustrated is proportioned to receive six beverage bottles in two rows of three bottles each.

The slotting of the upper portions of the side panels l2 and I2 provides apertures 23 through which the bottles may be inserted into the holder. The upper tabs 25 are bent inwardly along the lines 28, and the lower tabs along the lines 29, which bending may be accomplished incident to the intrusion of the bottoms of the bottles between said tabs. After a bottle has been inserted, it is moved to the end of the aperture, incident to which the end tab 21 at said end is flexed inwardly. The second bottle is inserted likewise and moved to the other end of the aperture, thus flexing the other end tab 21 inwardly, and then the third bottle is inserted between the two thus positioned at the ends. The height of the side panels is such that the necks or upper portions of the bottles remain projecting through the apertures.

The lower tabs 26 form stiflening reinforcements along the lower margins of the wall apertures. The end tabs 21, due to the curved direction of their crease lines 30, cause the adjacent portions 33 of the side panels to take an outwardly arched or bowed form. In addition, said end tabs, which are held in an angular relationship to portions 33 by ensssement'with the botties, greatly strengthen and stiifen said portions which are disposed laterally of the apertures.

The upper tabs 2| perform a very important function in maintaining the upper parts of the side panels I: and I2 against buckling under the weight of the contents when the package is carried by the handle aiforded by the apertured top panels II and I4. Due to the angular relationship or these upper tabs 2!. to the conjoined portion on. the side panels, they act as very eifective stiifening and reinforcing elements under the handle apertures 23, thus holding the narrow portions 33 at the sides of the apertures against being deflected toward each other.

As a result of the arrangement of the upper and end tabs, therefore, it will be seen that the narrow portions 33 disposed laterally of the bottle apertures are especially qualified to support the weight of the contents, as they are supported against forces which would tend to flex them inwardly toward each other in a direction which would tend to tear them transversely. The reinforcement afforded by the lower tabs 23 is also important, as it protects the portions of the wall panels below the apertures against being torn or broken by the bottles in the operation of inserting them or removing them.

The creases It and i3 permit the lower portions of the top panels l4 and it to be moved somewhat more closely mother, and also, because of the deflnite angularity occasioned between the top and side panels by said creases, have the effect of stiflening longitudinally the relatively narrow portions of the material between the bottoms of the apertures 23 and the tops of the apertures 23. However, the crease lines l6 and I3 may be omitted, so that there will be no demarcation of top panels.

The upstanding rim which is formed by the girth section encompasses the side panels and supports the lower portions against the outward pressure from the contained bottles. This rim performs a further important function in that it relieves the locking tongues Ho and the slot portion 32 of much of the tension to which they otherwise would be subjected, and thus contributes very materially to the security and stability of the connection between the bottom panel I3 and side panel I2.

As a result of the construction described above, the device constitutes a very convenient and effective container for the packaging and carrying of a plurality of bottles or similar articles. So long as the package is in the upright position, or even when it is lying on any side, the contained bottles (if of the size for which the holder is designed) are securely retained against falling out of it. At the same time, however, they may be easily and conveniently removed when desired, without involving any dismantling or unfolding or mutilation of the holder. To

accomplish such removal, the middle bottle is first withdrawn upwardly through the aperture 23, whereupon either oi the adjacent bottles at the ends of the aperture may be slid to the center position and likewise withdrawn upwardly through the aperture. After any or. all of the bottles are removed, the container still retains its proper setup form, so that it is always available as a repository for the emptied bottles. Likewise, after some of the bottles have been removed, it continues to function as a safe and effective holder for those remaining.

The constructionis susceptible of modiflcation in various particulars. For example, the girth section may be formed separately from the body section and assembled as illustrated in Fig. 2 hereof with a body section of the form hereinabove described. In this modified form of girth section, the upstanding rim is provided by a member 50, which is collapsible to flattened condition, and which has outer wall panels 5| conjoined to intermediate panels 52 by end panels 54, said intermediate panels being conjoined along one longitudinal margin as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus the girth member aifords two collaterally disposed compartments. In assembly, the ends of the body section are inserted through the compartments of the girth member, and the bottom panel then secured to the side panel by the locking tongue and slot connection as above described. The girth section may be thus assembled with the conjoined margins of the intermediate panels I2 upward, as illustrated, or with them downward and against the bottom panel. In either position, the girth member reinforces the lower portions of the side panels against bulging outwardly and safeguards the tongue and slot connection and. in addition to holding the bottles against sliding off of the ends of the bottom panel, provides a partition between the two rows of bottles. The bottles are inserted into and removed from this form of the device in the same fashion as above described.

Some or all of the reinforcing tabs may be omitted, provided the body member is made of sufficiently strong material. Their great advantage resides in the fact that they permit the use of much lighter or weaker material than otherwise would be necessary, and still maintain the requisite strength and stiflfnessin the relatively narrow portions of the wall structure which are most likely to tear or break under the weight of the contents. Of course, the means for interlocking or connecting the ends of the body member may be varied or rearranged. There is distinct advantage. however, in having the locking slot in the bottom panel rather than in the side panel, as thereby the tensile strength of the latter is not reduced, and such weakening of the bottom panel is amply compensated for by the reinforcing effect of thegirth portion.

Advantages are obtained by having the side panels conjoined to each other at their upper ends as this integral connection of the side panels at their top margins is effective to hold them in proper register or relationship, viz., with their corresponding end margins in the same planes, thereby resisting diagonal weaving or distortion of the container, and, in particular, facilitating its being set up in the proper rectangular form. What I claim is: 1. A knocked-down container for the packaging of bottles or the like comprising a blank of sheet material formed to provide a body section and a girth section; the body section being creased to provide a bottom panel at one end and a side panel at the other end, said panels being formed with interengageable elements whereby they may be connected so that the side panel is at a side margin of the bottom panel, a second side panel having one of its ends conjoined to the other side panel and its other end conjoined to the opposite side margin of the bottom panel; the girth section being conjoined to an end margin of the bottom panel and flexible to an upstanding position relative thereto and around the lower portions of the side panels, to form an upstanding rim along the side and end margins of the bottom panel.

2. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body formed of paper board material or the like and including a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite sides thereof, the upper portionsof said side panels being connected to each other and provided with openings adjacent their upper ends to afl'ord a handle, said side panels being provided in their upper portions with bottle-receiving apertures spaced below said handle openings and extending across the greater portion of their width and stiflening tabs bent inwardly from the upper margins of said bottle-receiving apertures and cooperating with the conjoined material below the handle opening to form a stiffening stay bracing the portions of the material at the sides of the bottle-receiving aperture against deflection toward each other.

3. ma container for carrying bottles and the like, a body formed of paper board material or the like and including a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite margins thereof, said side panels being provided adjacent their upper ends with handle openings, at least one of said side panels being provided in its upper portion below the handle opening with a bottle-receiving aperture extending across the greater portion of its width and a stiffening tab bent inwardly at an angle along the upper margin of said aperture and cooperating with the conjoined material to stiffen the portions between the handle opening and bottle-receiving aperture against buckling.

4. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body formed of paper board material or the like and including a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite side margins thereof, said side panels being provided with transversely extending oblong finger openings adjacent their upper ends and transversely extending oblong bottle-receiving apertures in their upper portions below said finger openings, said side panels being creased transversely between said finger openings and bottle-receiving apertures and flexed along said creases so that the opposite side panel portions thereabove are closer together than the portions therebelow, and having also tabs bent inwardly along upper marginal portions of said bottle-receiving apertures whereby the material between the respective openings and apertures is stiffened transversely of the side panels.

5. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body formed of paper board or similar material and having a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite side margins thereof, a handle being provided at the upper ends of said side panels, at least one of said side panels having a portion facing upwardly and being provided with a bottle-receiving aperture in said upwardly facing portion, said aperture being formed by slots and creases in the material along portions of its outline and by slots in the material within its outline, whereby tabs are left conjoined to the material along margins of the aperture. said tabs being flexible inwardly along marginal portions of the aperture to positions wherein they cooperate with the conjoined material tostiifen margins of the aperture.

6. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body member of paper board material or the like having a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite sides thereof and provided with a handle at their upper ends, and a girth member embracing the lower portions of the side panels and retained by the bottom panel against displacement downwardly, said girth member being integral with one end or the bottom panel and resting upon the opposite end portion thereof and forming an upstanding rim extending only a traction of the height of the side panels, and at least one of the side panels having a projection engaging over said rim and retaining it against displacement upwardly.

7. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body member of paper board or the like comprising oppositely disposed side panels conjoined at their upper portions, a bottom panel connected to the lower ends of the side panels, said side panels having finger openings adjacent their upper ends to provide a handle and having upwardly converging portions below said handle and bottle-receiving apertures formed in said upwardly converging portions and having tabs bent angularly from the material which is at the sides of said apertures to stiflen the upwardly converging portions of the side panels.

8. In a container, a structure as specified in claim '7 and wherein the respective bottle apertures extend across the greater portion of the width of the said upwardly converging portions of the side panels.

9. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body member formed of sheet material creased to provide a bottom portion on which bottles may stand and side panels which are flexible to positions wherein they extend upwardly at opposite sides thereof, said side panels being provided with a handle at their upper ends and with apertures in their upper portions of size such as to permit insertion and removal of bottles therethrough to and from upright positions on the bottom portion, and tabs bent inwardly along upper and lower marginal portions of said apertures.

10. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body member formed 01' sheet material creased to provide a bottom portion on which bottles may stand and side panels which are flexible to positions wherein they extend upwardly at opposite sides thereof, said side panels being provided with a handle 'at their upper ends and with bottle apertures in their upper portions of size such as to permit insertion and removal of hottles therethrough to and from upright positions on the bottom portion, said bottle apertures each being of size and being located at such position as to accommodate the upper portions of a plurality of the bottles for which the device is designed when said bottles are standing on the bottom portion, said bottom portion being of a width such as to accommodate two rows of bottles between the side panels, and the side panels having tabs bent inwardly at angles from the portions of the material disposed laterally of the bottle apertures, to stiffen said portions,

11. A packaging holder for bottles and the like comprising a body member formed of sheet material and having a bottom on which the bottles may rest and side panels extending upwardly from opposite margins thereof and connected to each other at their upperparts, said side panels being provided with bottle-receiving apertures in upper areas thereof, and portions of the sheet material within said apertures being bent inwardly along lines running laterally thereof whereby to form depending tabs at sides of the apertures, said body member being provided with a handle at the upper ends oi the side panels.

12. In a container for carrying bottles and the like, a body formed of paper board or the like and including a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite side margins thereof,

said side panels being provided with a handle at their upper ends and in their upper portions below said handle with bottle-receiving apertures disposed to admit introduction of bottles to standing positions on the bottom, and end tabs flexed inwardly from the material disposed laterally of said apertures to stiflen portions of the side panels at the sides of the bottle-receiving apertures.

13. In a container for carrying bottle and the like, a structure as defined in claim 12 and wherein the side panels are connected to each other at their upper portions and the bottle-receiving apertures are of size to admit introduction oi the intended bottles bottoms first.

14. A container as specified in claim 12 and wherein the said bottle-receiving apertures extend across the greater portion of the width of the side panels.

15. In a container, a construction as specified in claim 12 and wherein the respective bottle-receiving apertures extend across the greater portions of the width of the respective side panels and are adapted to accommodate the upper portions of a plurality of the intended bottles standing in a row on the bottom panel.

16. In a container, a construction as specified in claim 12 and wherein the inwardly bent end tabs are in position to contact adjacent surfaces of bottles standing on the bottom panel and extending through the bottle-receiving apertures.

17. In a container, a construction as specified in claim 12 and wherein the end tabs are adapted and disposed in positions in the side panels to be bent inwardly by the bottles incident to insertion of them through the bottle-receiving apertures.

18. In a container, 9. construction as specified in claim 12 and wherein top stifiening tabs are bent inwardly along the upper margins of the bottle-receiving apertures and cooperate with the conjoined material to brace the upper parts of the panel portions which are at the sides of said apertures against deflection toward each other.

HEN RY K. POWELL. 

